Summit Brewing Co. Reveals 2018 Release Calendar

ST. PAUL, Minn. — 2017 was a fun year here at Summit Brewing Co. We debuted new beers and variety packs, we won another silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival, we launched a renovation of our Beer Hall, and we were named 2017’s Most Underrated Brewery in America by Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine. But now we’ve been sitting on our 2018 brewing plans for months, and we’re tired of keeping everything secret. With that in mind, here’s a month-by-month overview of all the new beers we’re preparing for 2018. And read until the end, dang it, lest you miss news concerning Summit Keller Pils, Lazy Sipper, and Dark Infusion.

January 2018Entering our year-round lineup starting January 1 is Summit Dakota Soul, a classical Czech-style Pils featuring North Dakota barley. Dakota Soul arrives on draft and in 12-packs of 12-oz. cans, as well as 6 and 12-packs of 12-oz. bottles.

Also dropping in January is a new edition of the Summit IPA Collection, featuring twelve 12-oz. cans. Included are Summit Sága IPA and three brand-new hop-forward brews: Wee IPA, Imperial IPA, and Experimental Hop IPA. Get ready to stage an epic hop raid with these beasts:

Summit Wee IPA is a heavily hopped, sessionable pale ale with aromas of passionfruit, key lime, and melon. It is available only in the variety box.

Summit Imperial IPA brings immense aromas of tangerine, stone fruit, and lemon to an 8.5% ABV monster with 105 IBU. It is also available only in the variety box.

Summit Experimental Hop IPA features big hop flavors of pineapple, coconut, peach, and apricot. It will be available in the variety box and on draft.

Last but not least, Summit Keller Pils is being promoted in January to our year-round rotation, arriving on draft and in 6 and 12-packs of 12-oz. cans. After debuting as a one-time brew in 2016 and returning as a summer seasonal in 2017, we’re excited to finally give Keller Pils the top-billing it deserves.

February
After a busy January, we’ll recover in February with the return of Summit Maibock, available on draft, in 12-packs of 12-oz. cans, and in 6 and 12-packs of 12-oz. bottles.

AprilApril 2018 will see a new edition of the Summit Boundary Waters Box, a 12-pack of 12-oz. cans built specifically for your cooler. Summit Hefeweizen returns, new beers Summit Golden Fruited Ale and Summit Shore Sitter debut, and Summit Lazy Sipper plans world domination.

Withbig fruit additions of genuine peach and apricot, Summit Golden Fruited Ale will be available in 12-oz. cans and on draft.

Brewed exclusively for the 2017 Minnesota State Fair, Summit Lazy Sipper features Minnesota-grown ingredients and strawberries from the University of Minnesota’s breeding program. Find it on draft, in the Boundary Waters Box, plus inside 12-packs of 12-oz. cans and 6 and 12-packs of 12-oz. bottles.

Summit Snow Emergency is a new, vanilla-infused take on Summit Great Northern Porter. It will be available in the Penalty Box, on draft, and in twelve-packs of 12-oz. cans, as well as 6 and 12-packs of 12-oz. bottles.

Summit Dark Infusion, an overwhelmingly popular coffee milk stout that debuted in November 2016, is the first-ever Summit Unchained Series beer to make a comeback. And don’t worry, we aren’t changing a thing. You’ll find it on draft and in 12-oz. cans exclusively inside the 2018 Summit Penalty Box.

November 2018 will also see the release of Summit Union Series 7: 120 Shilling Export Scotch Ale, a small batch aged in wooden hogsheads that will arrive on draft and in 4-packs of 12-oz. bottles.

DecemberWe have a secret and we aren’t telling you what it is.

A Note Regarding the Summit Unchained SeriesAfter 9+ years and 26 unique, one-off beers, the Summit Unchained Series will return in 2018 as a draft-only program available exclusively at the Summit Beer Hall. Though limited in production and distribution, the Summit Unchained Series will continue to allow Summit brewers to showcase their skill and creativity with the best damn ingredients they can find. More information about upcoming Unchained Series beers will be available in the coming months.

A Word from Mark Stutrud

Heading into our brewery’s 32nd year, Summit Brewing Co. Founder and President Mark Stutrud would like to set the record straight: “Continuous improvement is core to Summit, because it’s important for beer to fit with the time and flavor preferences of the people drinking it. We aren’t changing what we do or how we operate — this is what we’ve always done. We’re simply talking about it now, turning up the volume, and refusing to diminish the role we’ve played in establishing standards of flavor and quality in this industry.”

Disclaimer: Just about everything in this release is subject to change, but holy smokes, we hope there aren’t too many updates. That would be a lot of work.

About Summit Brewing Company

Founded in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1986, Summit Brewing Company has remained close to its roots, refreshing thirsty folks throughout the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions. Currently available in five states, Summit now produces seven year-round premium craft beers, seven occasionals, four seasonal brews, and the limited-release Unchained Series and Union Series. Since our inception, we’ve been a consistent pioneer in the craft beer movement. For everything Summit Brewing, visit summitbrewing.com.

With more than 30 years experience in crafting fine ales and lagers, Summit Brewing Company prides itself on introducing people to great beers. Beer shaped by tradition, but inspired by the innovative...